New Delhi: Eminent Doordarshan news reader and anchor Gitanjali Iyer is no more. One of the oldest faces of the national news channel, who read the 9 o’clock English news bulletin with equal proportions of calm and grace, breathed her last on June 6, Tuesday. She was 72.

Iyer started as a journalist and joined Doordarshan in 1975 during the black-and-white era of television.

After obtaining her bachelor's degree in English, Iyer successfully graduated from Loreto College in Kolkata. She also got a diploma program at the National School of Drama.

She was the news anchor of the prime-time news bulletin ‘News Tonight’ and many other popular news programmes.

Iyer also hosted some popular programmes—'The World This Week’ and ‘The Citizens Charter’.

After retiring from Doordarshan, she continued to work as an independent journalist.

The Government of India honoured her with the country’s fourth highest civilian award ‘Padma Shri’.

She bagged the best anchor award four times and was also conferred with the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for Outstanding Women in 1989 for her work, achievements, and contributions.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed his sorrow over Iyer’s demise.

Tharoor said: "Gitanjali Iyer was a prominent figure in Indian journalism. She was a leading figure in the field of television news, and her reporting was always impartial, accurate, and insightful. She will be remembered fondly by many colleagues, supporters, and viewers who trusted her."

NDTV co-founder Prannoy Roy also expressed sadness about the veteran journalist’s death. Gitanjali Iyer was an inspiration for many young journalists. She was a professional par excellence and always prioritized the needs of her audience. She will be remembered for her dedication to her craft and her commitment to public service, Roy said.

Well-known journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said, "Gitanjali Iyer was a household name in India. She was a trusted source of news for millions of people and will be greatly missed. She was a true professional and always prioritized her audience."